On the dreaded line between birth center and hospital...(long)

mrstoussaint

Hi All! I'm new to this board. So, I'm sure this is redundant. Feel free to point me to a similar post :0)

 I'm currently with a practice that I kind of can't stand.  (If you care why, I included a paragraph at the very end to try and limit the length for those who don't) This prompted me to tour the birth center my friend delivered at. I loved it! Now, I'm in that dreaded place where everyone I know wants to tell me that this is a bad idea. My mother reminds me of my mentally disabled cousin who is so due to being in the birth canal too long, what if I don't get to a c-section in time? What if I hemorrhage?

I'm healthy, great bp, I excercise, passed the blood glucose and all other screenings, etc. I have my first appointment with them next week on Thursday, I just can't seem to bring myself to cancel the appt with my old ob scheduled for Tuesday. When I put in a request to have my records transferred to the birth center, they called and harassed me about  why i was leaving and would not transfer my records until I gave answers. Now, I feel as though I'm taking a leap. Once I cancel my appointment I can't go back! I know, I've read everything that says infant/maternal mortality rates are the same btw birth centers/hospitals. The bc assured me that the ambulance would only take 2 minutes to get to the bc in the case that they needed one. They also said that most emergencies don't happen so quickly that hospital transfer time is an issue.

I guess in the end I'm asking if anyone was in this place before? If you were, what swayed you to one side or the other? Are you happy with your decision? Has anyone had an emergency at a birth center that was/wasn't well handled?

 (If you don't care why I dislike my ob's office, feel free to skip the rest)

The ultrasound tech is SUPER rough, she jabs me with the probe and it hurts and she basically looks at me like i'm whining.

It's a rotating practice and one of the male doctors is super rude (I've seen him twice). He need to find the bp once, pointed to my stomach  and said "can you lift that up" and continued to refer to my stomach as "that" throughout the appointment.

I like my personal ob enough, but she's moody. We asked her about the birth at the last appointment and she rolled her eyes and huffed and said "I like to say, we'll see what works." I told her I didn't want baby to leave the room after birth..she basically said "good luck with that" 

(thanks!)

 

amberthehobbit

Can you invite your mom to your appointment? My midwife suggested I do this. Fortunately my mom and mil are pretty supportive they just don't have all the facts. 

mrstoussaint

amberthehobbit:

Can you invite your mom to your appointment? My midwife suggested I do this. Fortunately my mom and mil are pretty supportive they just don't have all the facts. 

Hi! Thanks for responding We live over a thousand miles from either of our parents I'm less concerned about what they think (they won't be there for the birth) and more concerned abot doing what's best for LO, ya know?

drpayne

If you asked for your records to be transferred (and you signed a release), they should fax them over, no questions asked.  The fact that they harassed you is reason enough to look for some place else, even if it's another OB.   

I liked my birthing center experience and honestly, most hospital transfers are not emergencies.  I was one of them and my midwife drove.  I think the head midwife there said it's been like 10 years since they actually called an ambulance.  I'm back at the birthing center and hope to give birth there this time   Good luck with your decision!

nosoup4u

Is it a freestanding birth center, or a birth center in a hospital? ACOG supports both options, so I'd mention that to your mom if she's giving you a hard time.

Birth has risks, period, no matter where you are. Go with what you are comfortable with, not with what someone else thinks you should do. 

ETA: Your current office sounds horrible, I would definitely switch, and also complain about the u/s tech being an arsehole. That is really unprofessional. 

tokenhoser

Dump that office yesterday. You will not have a positive experience with them.

My feelings were that I wanted to know, no matter what happened, that I had given my birth everything I had and that my caregivers supported me. I did have the birth I wanted (mostly), but if I had needed a c-section or other interventions, I wanted to be sure that it was what I had NEEDED. There is no way you can have the reassurance in the care of your current practice. 

AmyRI

Birth center or not, dump that OB practice as fast as you can.

Take a tour of the hospital. Ask lots of questions about facilities for NB - do they allow you to do intermittent monitoring, hep lock instead of IV, provide birthing balls, let you shower/use a tub - ask if it's possible to keep LO in the room with you at all times. That part might be a hospital thing and not necessarily an OB thing. The hospital should also have a list of providers that deliver there, and you could search for an OB (or midwife) from that list if you decide you are most comfortable at the hospital.

I think hospital vs birth center is a very personal decision, and if you're not comfortable with the decision then there is no way you can be comfortable while in labor. Keep searching until you find a provider and a place that fits your desires, even if that means transferring to the birth center now and back out to an OB/hospital after you find a better fit.

jennadoll87

drpayne:

If you asked for your records to be transferred (and you signed a release), they should fax them over, no questions asked.  The fact that they harassed you is reason enough to look for some place else, even if it's another OB.   

I agree and its never too late to get yourself out of a bad situation. I would even switch very late in pregnancy if i was having those kinds of issues!

silkyhorse

You asked about emergencies and how they were handled.  My son was born at home with a midwife and after the birth, I hemorrhaged.  My midwife handled it EXTREMELY well.  She knew exactly when it was time to call an ambulance, came with me to the hospital, explained what happened to the ER doctors.  I never felt the slightest bit nervous, I was in such good hands.  The OB who did my surgery (I had to have a D&C) even said that the midwives did everything perfectly and the same thing would have happened had I given birth in the hospital.

My second baby was born in the hospital (it's a really long story with a breech baby and a LOT of bad luck).  Worst.Experience.Ever.  I could go on and on about the poor treatment and lack of respect for natural birthing moms. Ugh!

phq2011

I would dump your OB practice now. There is no excuse for that type of treatment. As to birthing center v. hospitals, find what is comfortable for you. Consider the true positives and negatives of each. The chance of a repeat like your family's is low if you are a low-risk pregnancy. Not all hospitals are anti-natural birth, but when you tour them, talk to the nurses if you can. The administrators can claim they accept natural, but it is the nurse's attitude that really shows if they are pro-natural birth or not.

catahoulatte

I didn't switch from an OB to a birthing center, but I did switch to a new practice when I was pregnant because I had some similar experiences and feelings as you about the former. Best decision I ever made. If you don't care for the people, bail out now!!

I can't speak for the birth center but the ones that we have in the area are very highly spoken about. As for me, having an OB that was friendly and I trusted made all the difference, and I had a great birth experience (a natural one, even!).

bandwife

AmyRI:

l.

I think hospital vs birth center is a very personal decision, and if you're not comfortable with the decision then there is no way you can be comfortable while in labor.

So true. 

Reminds me of when my husband asked our doula if birthing at a home was better than birthing at a hospital.

Her response was, the best place for a woman to give birth is where she is most comfortable. For some women that is a hospital. For other women that may be at home.

NoeKenn

Get rid of that OB ASAP! I cant believe thry would harrass you like that. And dont feel bad about it. When i was preggo with my first I left my OB and took my records with me and I was already 7 months. When I walked into the birthing center they looked at me like whoa! But it was the best decision I ever made, I went back to have my second child too. Unfortunately they are too far from where I live now but I am having this little one at a birthing center as well.

mrstoussaint

Thank you for all of the great responses! I am heavily leaning toward the bc. Being a FTM I appreciate your encouragement and your willingness to share your experiences. My confidence is at an all time high

poison489

I am actually calling a birth center today to make the switch.  It has taking a lot of convincing my DH to support me though.  After going through a typical hospital birth with DS, where I wanted to go natural, but stopped progressing due to the unsupportive and fear mongering hospital staff, and having a doctor now that seems to be a bit of c-section pusher, I am ready for a more supportive environment.  DHs only fear is the "what if an emergency situation comes up?"  I had no complications with my last labor and I am low risk again this time around, so I am not concerned in the slightest.  I know there are several hospitals near the BC I want (within 10 minutes), so in the event something did go wrong, I could be at the hospital very quickly.

jennyelf

There's a birthing center across the street from the hospital. I too debated which  I wanted to give birth at. In the end I chose to go with hospital even though I'm in good health and had a complication free pregnancy. The hospital was very natural birth supportive and I had a med-free, intervention free birth there and was for the most part very happy with my experience. I think had my hospital been less natural birth supportive, I might have gone with the birthing center.

What swayed me: (a) birthing center discharged 12 hours after birth and I thought I might want to stay in the hospital longer. (b) I tend to find a certain comfort in hospitals in that I know what happens there and I was a worried FTM.

In the end, it's a good thing I was at the hospital since there was meconium and the birthing center had a policy of moving you to the hospital in that case. If we decide to have a second, I will consider the birth center if I'm still in good health as I think having done it once, I won't need the hospital setting to feel comfortable like I did this time. 

 

Meanwhile: your current practice seems horrible and I would leave too if I was in your place. 

phq2011

poison489:

I am actually calling a birth center today to make the switch.  It has taking a lot of convincing my DH to support me though.  After going through a typical hospital birth with DS, where I wanted to go natural, but stopped progressing due to the unsupportive and fear mongering hospital staff, and having a doctor now that seems to be a bit of c-section pusher, I am ready for a more supportive environment.  DHs only fear is the "what if an emergency situation comes up?"  I had no complications with my last labor and I am low risk again this time around, so I am not concerned in the slightest.  I know there are several hospitals near the BC I want (within 10 minutes), so in the event something did go wrong, I could be at the hospital very quickly.

I would have your DH do some reading on the actual risks of said emergencies. For a low-risk pregnancy, he should be aware of what could really happen or not. 

Jcrab

bandwife:

AmyRI:

l.

I think hospital vs birth center is a very personal decision, and if you're not comfortable with the decision then there is no way you can be comfortable while in labor.

So true. 

Reminds me of when my husband asked our doula if birthing at a home was better than birthing at a hospital.

Her response was, the best place for a woman to give birth is where she is most comfortable. For some women that is a hospital. For other women that may be at home.

 

You definitely have to chose the environment and caregivers that make you the most comfortable. I just had a wonderful HBAC although there were complications. DD dropped her heart rate about 5 minutes before delivery (later found to be from a very short umbilical cord). As it was the MW gave me oxygen and helped stretch my tissues with her hand to expedite the delivery and baby came out pink and crying. In the hospit I would have had at best an episiotomy or probably more likely an emergency Cesarian under general anesthesia; both of these options would have had worse outcomes for me and baby. FWIW, I am a NICU RN so I know pretty well how L&D units work. Hypnobirthing might be a good way to build your confidence and help cope during labor, I loved it!

star173

OMG, switch. You are the one having the baby, not your family members or friends. You have to be at a place where you feel most comfortable. If it will help you, don't cancel your Tuesday appt. Go. Then have your 1st appt. at the birth center and decide where you want to have YOUR baby. Good luck.

Also, something I read (or heard?) a while back stuck with me. Yes, there are sometimes emergency situations in birth, but it's very very very unlikely that they would go from "all is fine" to "emergency" without warning. A good birth center will be on the lookout for those signs, and if you had to transfer for a c/s or anything, you will have time.

 

Kitttkattt

I lost twins at 22 weeks. For the next pregnancy, I carried my prenatal records around in my purse. I would just request copies after each appointment. I was never questioned why. I did it because I was scared and I wanted a complete history in case something happened and an ambulance took me to another hospital. Anyways, they are your records. Maybe try to speak to a different person at the office and request them and if questioned just say in case you are somewhere and have to call an ambulance, you want the hospital to be familiar with your history. Usually it's the front end that handles the records.

MangomamaFL

My husband was uncomfortable with a hospital birth.  I was uncomfortable with a home birth (that time around). So at 40 weeks and 4 days we switched to a birthing  center.. Even though it is free standing it is just across the street from a hospital (with maternity services. Not all hospitals have maternity).

I went into labor at 41 weeks and a day. We had no complications. If we did, I am sure we would transfer to a hospital quickly.   I was glad I had my daughter at the birthing center.. I love the huge tub with jets.

Unfortunately, the birthing center is a two hour drive from my home. I don't want to drive back and forth for all the prenatals this time around.  

Note: Even if you labor at a hospital, it will still take time to get the OR ready for a c-sec. If you develop a complication requiring a c-sec while at the birthing center,  they can call the hospital and get the OR ready while you are in transit.

 

mAnYaSha

It is crear that this board agrees that you should birth where you are the most comfortable. You do not sound comfortable with current OB arrangements.

I was just wondering, where was your cousin born?

Check out the BC and go with your gut feeling. GL !